Editorial: Clean-energy quest boundaries needed

Friday

Sep 26, 2008 at 12:01 AMSep 26, 2008 at 3:08 PM

Finding clean energy sources is a way of the future, and that means we need to seriously investigate opportunities — especially those in our own back yard. Most important is to make certain we do not compromise the environment as they are developed.

Finding clean energy sources is a way of the future, and that means we need to seriously investigate opportunities — especially those in our own back yard. Most important is to make certain we do not compromise the environment as they are developed.

Two sources of energy that could help drive the future are natural gas and wind. It was recently reported that a huge amount of natural gas is sitting in a rock formation about a mile below the surface in an area spanning several counties in the central and western parts of the state.

Drilling for natural gas in New York has occurred for more than a century — mostly in the westernmost part of the state — but has slowly moved east. A bill recently signed by Gov. David Paterson slowed the process of expanding natural gas production in New York, however, because it requires state environmental officials to update regulations on drilling. If the potential for significant gas reserves is as great as energy officials say it is, the governor is making a prudent move to ensure it’s done in the most environmentally safe manner.

Another promising source of energy comes from wind power. If you travel south of Ontario County into Cohocton, turbines are going up to pump electricity into the grid.

Wind farms capitalize on a natural force found in generous supply here, especially high atop the Tug Hill plateau in Lewis County, where winds blowing across Lake Ontario keep 195 turbines turning. The $400 million Maple Ridge wind project is the largest in the state.

Drilling for natural gas and the creation of wind farms can be economically beneficial to communities as well as landowners. Yet, there are legitimate environmental concerns that need to be addressed. With drilling, people worry about chemicals companies inject into the water as part of extracting the gas. Wind farm opponents worry largely about the visual impact on pastoral landscapes, as we’ve seen in battles in towns in southern Ontario County and northern Steuben.
There is no argument that we need to find new and better ways to power our future. But we cannot ravage communities and sell ourselves out to do it.